Update - Wagering & Purses First 36 days of Np Meet

For the first thirty-six (36) days of the 2011 Northlands thoroughbred meet, wagering on the live product both on and off track totaled $6,375,144 vs. $7,105,092 in2010 for a decrease of ($729,948) or (10.3%). Daily wagering averaged $177,087 vs. $197,364 last year for a drop of ($20,277) per day. The only positive spin I can put on these results is that they are improved from the first 6 days of the meet when we were down 14.1% and our daily average was down $23,521.Hopefully this signals a “bottom” and we can build on the results of the last few days.We continue to see erosion with on track wagering which to date totals $2,730,798 ($75,856/day) vs. $3,131,770 ($86,994/day).When compared to last year we are averaging $11,138 less per day for a decrease of 12.8% but once again this is an improvement from the first six (6) days when we were down 23.7%

With respect to overall wagering in the province, as of Jul 3, 2011 aggregate handle on all product from all sources totaled $75.4m vs. $76.9m in 2010 for a decrease of almost 2%. Of the $72.6m wagered on the "A" track circuit; $54.1m (75%) was on thoroughbreds and $18.5m (25%) was on the Standardbred product. Whereas total thoroughbred foreign simulcast handle in Albertaincreased $1.35m or 4.5%. the same source standardbred handle decreased nearly ($1.3m) or (8.4%). I’ve indicated this fact at least one hundred times before but it bears repeating - the customer continues to speak clearly on which product they wish to view and place wagers on. As of this writing we foresee the budgeted purse payments remaining status quo for the remainder of the meet.To date our overnite payments have totaled $2.984m vs. $2.893m for a nominal increase.One very positive development is that Average starters per race have increased to 7.44 from 7.22 last year.Larger field sizes results in increased wagering.

Questions and comments are always welcomed.

Copyright 2011 The Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association of Alberta